An item dated Washington, USA 24th reported that the USA decided to apply the escalator clause of the London Naval Treaty and started building battleships larger as 35.000 tons.
Note
1. The London Naval Treaty was a result of the Second London Naval Disarmament Conference and which begun on 9 December 1935. Finally was the treaty signed by United Kingdom, USA and France on 25 March 1936. Italy and Japan which in the past signed the other naval treaties both declined to sign. Capital ships were under this new treaty limited to a maximum of 35.562 tons and 35,6cm/14” guns. The escalator clause supplied the possibility to use 16” guns and built larger battleships if Japan or Italy still had not signed after 1 April 1937.
